Gwangju Gwangsan-gu Facility Management Corporation Hiring Scandal to Be Investigated by Police

Union Files Complaint Over Favoritism and Procedural Omissions in Worker Conversion
"Illegal and Unjust Actions Must Be Clearly Revealed Through Investigation"
Prosecutors Confirm Receipt, Case to Be Transferred to Gwangsan Police Station

Amid allegations of procedural omissions and preferential treatment during the transition of non-regular workers to permanent positions at the Gwangju Gwangsan-gu Facility Management Corporation, the corporation's integrated labor union has filed a complaint with the prosecution, which is now expected to lead to a judicial investigation.

An official from the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office told Asia Economy on September 4 that "the case has been received and internally assigned, but since it is not subject to direct investigation by a prosecutor, it will be transferred to the Gwangsan Police Station."

Gwangju Gwangsan-gu Facility Management Corporation Bitgoeul National Sports Center. Photo by Song Bohyun

The complaint, filed at the end of last month, alleges that during the 2023 transition process for non-regular workers handling municipal solid waste, a relative of a specific individual was included, raising suspicions of preferential treatment. It also claims that, during the same period, some employees were excluded from the transition without reasonable grounds.

Additionally, procedural issues were raised regarding last year's transition of the head of an affiliated welfare center, as the process was handled solely through internal evaluation without an open competition or review by a transition committee. Furthermore, despite the city council and audit office pointing out the lack of validity in single-person evaluations last year, the corporation continued the transition process without reflecting requests for improvement, which has also been criticized.

A representative of the integrated labor union stated, "There must be organizational accountability for pushing ahead with the transition despite the criticisms from the Gwangsan-gu Council and the audit office," adding, "Any illegal or unjust acts during the transition process must be thoroughly uncovered through the prosecution's investigation."

Previously, Asia Economy reported on August 15 under the headline 'Exclusive: Gwangju Gwangsan-gu Facility Management Corporation Faces Allegations of Omitted Procedures in Non-Regular Worker Transition' that the corporation allegedly omitted the transition committee review and open recruitment procedures while converting two fixed-term municipal solid waste workers and one welfare facility director to permanent positions over the past two years. At the time, the corporation explained, "The transition was an unavoidable measure based on labor consulting, which states that employees who have worked for more than two years should be converted in principle, and it does not violate any laws."

[Counterstatement] Regarding 'Gwangju Gwangsan-gu Facility Management Corporation, Recruitment Procedure Allegations' and Related Reports

On August 15 and September 4, this outlet reported in the National-Honam section under the headline 'Exclusive: Gwangju Gwangsan-gu Facility Management Corporation Faces Allegations of Omitted Procedures in Non-Regular Worker Transition' that suspicions had been raised about the omission of essential procedures such as review and open recruitment during the conversion of non-regular workers to permanent positions over the past two years.

In response, the Gwangju Gwangsan-gu Facility Management Corporation has stated, "The conversion to permanent positions was carried out without omission in accordance with the corporation's regulations and procedures, and a labor consulting agency confirmed there were no issues with the recruitment."

This report is in accordance with mediation by the Press Arbitration Commission.